There was a packed fringe meeting to hear Maurice Wren, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council and Andrej Mahecic, Senior External Relations Officer at UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) speak.
Maurice Wren spoke of how the World has turned upside down, with the biggest global refugee crisis since World War 2. However our response does not have heart in it, and we are dragging our feet. Attempting to deal with the crisis by closing down safe and legal routes for refugees is part of what has caused the crisis on Europe’s borders. Effectively stopping refugees from reaching our shores with virtually no legal routes open to them means huge risks are taken, both in crossing the Mediterranean and across the channel.
He called for a much bigger resettlement programme that is not just a number spread over a number of years, but front loaded so many more are taken as soon as possible. We need to not just do this, but do it well, invest in making safe and legal routes, renegotiate the Dublin 3 agreement, local councils must play their part and civic society be allowed and encouraged to play their part too.
He set out the challenges that faced us in the UK to deliver such a programme, and remove the barriers, adding that it was also important that we make space to talk to those who are sceptical, make big changes to our present asylum policy, continue to work to end indefinite detention, end the hostile environment created and fight the pernicious immigration bill coming up.
Adrej Mahecic then spoke about the death and destruction leading to displacement in Syria. He said that the whole of the Mediterranean is at tipping point and action was vital.
Unwavering support should be given to those in the camps near to Syria, as well as those that have been displaced, search & rescue operations, reception facilities and protection given throughout the whole process.
Relocation schemes need to be promoted and taken up as well as all other legal avenues to be part of preventing further tragedies.
He ended by reminding us that at the end of the day, what most of those fleeing and seeking sanctuary actually wanted was to return, when safe, to their home country.
A lively discussion followed and Lord Roger Roberts summed up saying that what was needed was a new charter for the rights of refugees; and end to them being removed automatically when aged 18; the right to work for asylum seekers; fighting the illiberal Immigration Bill and shameful response by the Government, but giving praise to countries doing better, as we should be.